Laundry treating machine

ABSTRACT

A laundry treating machine is provided. The laundry treating machine may include a tub to receive wash water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, an air supply device to supply air to the tub, a lint filter to filter lint from the air circulated by the air supply device, a filter cleaning device to supply cleaning water to the lint filter to remove the lint from the lint filter, and a cooling water supply device to supply cooling water to an inner surface of the tub such that moisture contained in air is condensed at the inner surface of the tub.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to KoreanApplication Nos. 10-2012-0036082 filed on Apr. 6, 2012 and10-2012-0036083 filed on Apr. 6, 2012, whose entire disclosures arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This relates to a laundry treating machine.

2. Background

Generally, laundry treating machines may include a washing machine and awashing machine also having a drying function. A washing machine mayremove various kinds of contaminants from laundry items usingemulsification, friction caused by rotation of a pulsator or a drum, andimpact applied to the laundry, and may automatically perform a series ofcycles including a washing course, a rinsing course, and a spin-dryingcourse. A washing machine with a drying function may also dry laundryafter washing. A condensation type washing machine with a dryingfunction may withdraw air from a tub, remove moisture from the air usingcondensed water, heat the air, and introduce the heated air into thetub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary condensation type washingmachine with a drying function;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a laundry treating machineaccording to an embodiment as broadly described herein;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the laundry treating machine shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a suspension device of the laundrytreating machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a coupling state between a tub and thesuspension device of the laundry treating machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an air supply device and the tub of thelaundry treating machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial sectional views of a hot air collection portand a filter cleaning device of the laundry treating machine shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cleaning water spray device of thelaundry treating machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the filter cleaning device shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, with the cleaning water spray device removed;

FIG. 10 illustrates a spray radius of the cleaning water spray deviceshown in FIGS. 7A-8;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a rear inner surface of the tub of thelaundry treating machine shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary condensation type washingmachine 10 with a drying function. As shown in FIG. 1, the washingmachine 10 may include a cabinet 11 having a receiving space definedtherein, a tub 12 received in the cabinet 11, a drum 13 rotatablymounted in the tub 12, a condensing duct 14 formed outside the tub 12 tocondense air containing moisture generated from the tub 12, a heatingduct 15 connected downstream of the condensing duct 14 to heat air usinga heater 16 and to supply the heated air into the tub 12, and a blowingfan 17 to circulate air from the tub 12 through the condensing duct 14and the heating duct 15.

In such a washing machine 10, air moved by the blowing fan 17 duringdrying may be heated by the heater 16 provided in the heating duct 15,and the heated air may be supplied into the tub 12 to dry the laundryduring rotation of the drum 13.

The air used to dry the laundry is relatively humid, and is introducedinto condensing duct 14 from the tub 12. In the condensing duct 14,moisture is removed from the humid air. Additional cooling water tocondense the humid air may be supplied to the condensing duct 14. Theair from the condensing duct 14 may be resupplied to the heating duct 15by the blowing fan 17.

The condensing duct 14 may be shaped like a pipe to enhance air blowingcapacity of the blowing fan 17 and smooth flow of air. Moisturecontained in humid air may be condensed through heat exchange betweenthe inner surface of the condensing duct 14 and the humid air. As aresult, moisture may be removed from the air. Depending on humiditylevels, it may be necessary to continuously supply a relatively largeamount of cooling water during drying to sufficiently condense moisturefrom humid air introduced into the condensing duct 14. However, the areaof the condensing duct 14 is relatively small due to space constraintswithin the cabinet 11, and thus it may be necessary to supply arelatively large amount of cooling water for a relatively long period oftime, thereby increasing cooling water consumption and drying time.

In addition, during drying, lint contained in the laundry may beintroduced into the condensing duct 14 with the air may remain in thecondensing duct 14, the blowing fan 17, and the heating duct 15. Thelint remaining in the condensing duct 14 may reduce efficiency of thecondensing duct 14. The lint remaining in the blowing fan 17 may hamperoperation of the blowing fan 17. The lint remaining in the heating duct15 may cause operational problems or combustion of the heater 16provided in the heating duct 15.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a laundry treating machine 100according to an embodiment as broadly described herein, and FIG. 3 is aside sectional view of the laundry treating machine shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the laundry treating machine 100 may includea cabinet 110 forming an external appearance of the laundry treatingmachine 100, a tub 120 fixedly mounted in the cabinet 110 and having aninner surface used as a cooling surface to generate condensed water, adrum 130 rotatably mounted in the tub 120, a rotary shaft 135 connectedto the drum 130 through the rear of the tub 120, a bearing housing 140to support the rotary shaft 135, a drive motor 141 provided at thebearing housing 140 to transmit rotary force to the rotary shaft 135, asuspension device 150 coupled to the bearing housing 140 to supportcomponents connected to the bearing housing 140 and, at the same time,to absorb vibration and/or impact, and an air supply device 160 fixedlymounted to the outside of the tub 120 to heat air and to supply theheated air into the tub 120.

The cabinet 110 may include a base 118 on which the respectivecomponents are positioned, a front panel 111 having an opening 112through which laundry is introduced, a left panel 114, a right panel115, a rear panel 116, and a top panel 117. A door 113 to close theopening 112 may be provided in the opening 112 of the front panel 111. Awater supply device 180 (see FIG. 6) to supply water from an externalwater source into the tub 120 may be provided in the inside upper partof the cabinet 110. A drainage device including a drainage hose and adrainage pump to discharge wash water used to wash and rinse laundryfrom the cabinet 110 may be provided in the inside lower part of thecabinet 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tub 120 may include a front tub 121 forming afront part of the tub 120 and a rear tub 122 forming a rear part of thetub 120. The front tub 121 and the rear tub 122 may be coupled to eachother via coupling members, such as screws, to form a space in which thedrum 130 is received.

The front tub 121 may include an introduction part 123 connected to thedoor 113 such that laundry is introduced through the introduction part123. A rim 121 b protruding to the front of the tub 120 may be formedalong the inner circumference of the introduction part 123. An airdischarge port 165 of the air supply device 160 may be connected to therib 121 b. The rim 121 b may include a front gasket 124 to maintainairtightness between the rim 121 b and the opening 112 of the frontpanel 111. The front gasket 124 may also prevent introduction of foreignmatter into a gap between the tub 120 and the drum 130.

The rear tub 122 may be open at the rear thereof. A tub back wall 125 toclose the rear of the rear tub 122 and a rear gasket 126 may be providedat the rear of the rear tub 122. The rear gasket 126 may be connected tothe tub back wall 125 and the rear tub 122 in a sealed state to preventleakage of wash water from the tub 120.

A cooling water supply device 300 to generate condensed water using therear of the rear tub 120 may be provided at one side of the outercircumference of the rear tub 120. The rear of the rear tub 120 mayfunction as a condensing surface due to the cooling water supplied fromthe cooling water supply device 300. Generation of condensed water usingthe rear of the rear tub 120 will hereinafter be described in detailwith additional drawings.

During rotation of the drum 130, the tub back wall 125 may vibratetogether with the drum 130. For this reason, the tub back wall 125 maybe spaced from the rear tub 122 by a distance sufficient to preventinterference between the tub ball wall 125 and the rear tub 122. Therear gasket 126, disposed between the tub back wall 125 and the rear tub122, may be made of a flexible material so that relative motion betweenthe tub back wall 125 and the rear tub 122 is allowed withoutinterference between the tub back wall 125 and the rear tub 122. Therear gasket 126 may have a bellows that can extend to a lengthsufficient to allow such relative motion.

The tub 120 may be upwardly supported by supporters 118 a and 118 bprovided at the base 118 of the cabinet 110 in the vertical directionand, at the same time, may be fixed by additional coupling members (forexample, screws or bolts). In addition, the tub 120 may be fixed to thefront panel 111 and the rear panel 116 or the left panel 114 and theright panel 115 by coupling members.

The tub 120 may be provided at the rear upper part thereof with acooling water supply device 300 to supply cooling water to cool theinner surface of the tub 120 such that the inner surface of the tub 120forms a cooling surface to generate condensed water. In certainembodiments, the cooling water supply device 300 may be provided at therear upper part of the rear tub 122, or other positions as appropriate.Hereinafter, the cooling water supply device 300 will be described asbeing provided at the rear upper part of the tub 120, simply forconvenience of description.

The air supply device 160 may be provided at the upper part of the tub120 to circulate and heat air in the tub 120 during a drying cycle ofthe laundry treating machine 100. That is, the air supply device 160 maybe configured to heat air discharged from the tub 120 and to introducethe heated air into the tub 120.

The drum 130 may include a front drum 131, a center drum 137, and a reardrum 132. Weight balancers 134 provided at the front part of the frontdrum 131 and the rear part of the rear drum 132 may suppress vibrationof the drum 130 during rotation of the drum 130. Lifts 133 may beprovided at the inner circumference of the center drum 137.

The rear drum 132 may be connected to a spider 136, and the spider 136may be connected to the rotary shaft 135. The drum 130 may be rotated inthe tub 120 by rotary force transmitted through the rotary shaft 135.The rotary shaft 135 may be directly connected to the drive motor 141through the tub back wall 125. Specifically, the rotary shaft 135 may bedirectly connected to a rotor of the drive motor 141. The bearinghousing 140 of the suspension device 150 may be coupled to the rear ofthe tub back wall 125.

The suspension device 150 of the laundry treating machine 100 will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The suspension device 150 may include a bearing housing 140 to supportthe rotary shaft 135, first and second weights 143 and 145 respectivelyconnected to first and second extensions 142 and 144 of the bearinghousing 140, first and second suspension brackets 151 and 154respectively connected to the first and second weights 143 and 145, andfirst, second and third spring dampers 152, 155 and 157 and first andsecond dampers 153 and 156 connected to the first and second suspensionbrackets 151 and 154 and the bearing housing 140 to elastically supportthe bearing housing 140. The bearing housing 140 may rotatably supportthe rotary shaft 135 between the drive motor 141 and the tub back wall125. The bearing housing 140 may be elastically supported by the first,second and third spring dampers 152, 155 and 157 and the first andsecond dampers 153 and 156.

The tub back wall 125, disposed at the rear of the tub 120, may becoupled to one side of the bearing housing 140. The rotary shaft 135,coupled to the drum 130, may extend into the bearing housing 140. Thebearing housing 140 may include a bearing to smoothly rotate the rotaryshaft 135 and support the rotary shaft 135. The drive motor 141 may befastened to the other side of the bearing housing 140.

The first extension 142 and second extension 144 of the bearing housing140 may be symmetrically arranged, and extend in the radial direction.The suspension device 150 may be fastened to the first extension 142 andthe second extension 144. The bearing housing 140 is elasticallysupported by the suspension device 150.

The first and second weights 143 and 145 may balance the drum 130 whenlaundry is received in the drum 130, and may serve as mass in avibration system in which the drum 130 vibrates. The first and secondweights 143 and 145 may be respectively connected to the first extension142 and second extension 144 of the bearing housing 140.

The first and second suspension brackets 151 and 154 may be respectivelyconnected to corresponding ends of the first and second weights 143 and145. The first and second suspension brackets 151 and 154 may extendfrom opposite lower parts of the tub 120 to the front of the tub 120,respectively. The first and second suspension brackets 151 and 154 maybe supported by the first, second and third spring dampers 152, 155 and157 and the first and second dampers 153 and 156.

The first spring damper 152 may be connected between the firstsuspension bracket 151 and the base 118, and the second spring damper155 may be connected between the second suspension bracket 154 and thebase 118. The third spring damper 157 may be connected between thebearing housing 140 and the base 118. One rear point and two front leftand right points may be supported by the first, second and third springdampers 152, 155 and 157 to provide shock absorption.

The first damper 153 may be mounted at an incline between the firstsuspension bracket 151 and the rear of the base 118, and the seconddamper 156 may be mounted at an incline between the second suspensionbracket 154 and the rear of the base 118.

The first and second weights 143 and 145, the first and secondsuspension brackets 151 and 154, the first and second spring dampers 152and 155, and the first and second dampers 153 and 156 may be symmetricwith respect to the rotary shaft 135 of the drum 130. The respectivedampers may be coupled to the base 118 via additional rubber bushingssuch that the respective dampers may tilt at predetermined angles. As aresult, the drum 130 and the bearing housing 140 may be elasticallysupported by the first and second suspension brackets 151 and 154 andthe first, second and third spring dampers 152, 155 and 157 such thatthe drum 130 and the bearing housing 140 may float in the tub 120.

The drive motor 141 may be fastened to the rear of the bearing housing140 and directly coupled to the rotary shaft 135. Velocity of the drivemotor 141 may be controlled by a controller.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the air supply device 160 and the tub120 of the laundry treating machine 100. The air supply device 160 mayinclude an air collection port 161 formed at one side of the outercircumference of the tub 120, a blowing fan 163 to collect and move airthrough the air collection port 161, a heating duct 164 to heat the airmoved by the blowing fan 163, and an air discharge port 165 to guide theair heated by the heating duct 164 to the tub 120. The air collectionport 161 may be formed through one side of the outer circumference ofthe tub 120. A lint filter 162 to filter lint generated during drying oflaundry may be provided at the inner circumference of the air collectionport 161 such that the lint filter 162 extends along the outercircumference of the tub 120. A filter cleaning device 200 may beprovided at the inside of the air collection port 161 (see FIGS. 7A and7B).

The blowing fan 163 may be provided at the upper side of the aircollection port 161. Upon operation of the blowing fan 163, air in thetub 120 may be introduced into the air collection port 161 and directedto the heating duct 164.

The heating duct 164 may heat the air moved by the blowing fan 163 togenerate hot air using a heater to heat the air moving in the heatingduct 164. The air heated in the heating duct 164 may be supplied intothe tub 120 through the air discharge port 165 to dry laundry.

Wash water to wash and rinse laundry, cleaning water to clean the lintfilter 162, and cooling water to cool tub 120 to generate condensedwater may be supplied to the laundry treating machine 100.

Hereinafter, construction of the water supply device 180, the filtercleaning device 200, and the cooling water supply device 300 and a watersupply structure will be described with respect to the accompanyingdrawings.

As shown in FIG. 6, a valve assembly 170 may selectively orsimultaneously supply water from an external water source to therespective components (for example, the water supply device 180, thefilter cleaning device 200, and the cooling water supply device 300).The valve assembly 170 may include a plurality of valves correspondingto the respective components, to which water is to be supplied. That is,the valve assembly 170 may include a water supply valve 172 to controlthe supply of wash water (or rinse water) to the water supply device180, a cleaning water valve 174 to control the supply of cleaning waterto the filter cleaning device 200, and a cooling water valve 176 tocontrol the supply of cooling water to the inner surface of the tub 120to generate condensed water. The valve assembly 170 may also include oneor more additional valves in a case in which one or more additionalcomponents (for example, a steam generator) using water are furtherprovided.

The water supply device 180 may include a water supply line 182 toreceive wash water from the water supply valve 172 and a detergentsupply device 184 mounted in the water supply line 182 to receivedetergent such that the water supplied through the water supply line 182is introduced into the tub 120 together with the detergent. The washwater having passed through the detergent supply device 184 may besupplied into the tub 120 from the front of the tub 120 through anadditional hose.

The filter cleaning device 200 may separate lint from the lint filter162 using wash water supplied from the water supply device 180 such thatthe lint is collected in the tub 120. Hereinafter, the filter cleaningdevice 200 of the laundry treating machine 100 will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 7A to 10.

As previously described, air may be heated by the heating duct 164 andintroduced into the drum 130 through the air discharge port 165connected to the front upper side of the tub 120. The high-temperaturedry air may dry laundry in the drum 130, with the result that thehigh-temperature dry air becomes high-humidity air containing moisture.The high-humidity air containing moisture flows to the heating duct 164through the air collection port 161 connected to the rear upper side ofthe tub 120 to achieve air circulation.

The air passing through the air collection port 161, i.e. the air usedto dry laundry, may contain foreign matter and lint, and thus it may benecessary to filter the air. Consequently, the laundry treating machine100 may include a lint filter 162 provided in the air collection port161 to filter foreign matter and lint contained in air passing throughthe air collection port 161. A filtering effect may be improved by anincreased sectional area of the lint filter 162. To this end, the lintfilter 162 may be provided in the air collection port 161 at apredetermined inclination angle as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

As previously described, it may be necessary to remove lint accumulatedon the lint filter 162 after long-term use of the laundry treatingmachine 100. That is, if the lint filter 162 is clogged by lint afterlong-term use of the laundry treating machine 100, the amount of airpassing through the air collection port 161 and introduced into theheating duct 164 may be considerably reduced. Under this condition, theblowing fan 163 may over-rotate due to the reduction in amount of theintroduced air (acting as frictional force), and the heater may beoverheated. These abnormalities may cause operational problems and posea fire risk.

Therefore, a filter cleaning device 200 to downwardly spray cleaningwater toward the lint filter 162 to remove lint from the lint filter 162may be provided above the lint filter 162 in the air collection port161.

The filter cleaning device 200 may include a fastening member 210connected to a cleaning water line 202 of the water supply device 180provided in the laundry treating machine 100, the fastening member 210having a hollow par through which cleaning water may flow, a main body220 extending from the fastening member 210, and a cleaning water spraydevice 230 fastened to the lower side of the main body 220, the cleaningwater spray device 230 having one open side through which the cleaningwater introduced into the fastening member 219 may flow, and the otherside closed such that the cleaning water is sprayed downward.

The fastening member 210 may be connected to a water supply channelformed in the shape of a tube or pipe. For example, the fastening member210 may have a circular shape. The fastening member 210 may be providedperpendicularly to one side of the air collection port 161 to preventleakage of cleaning water and easy fastening between the fasteningmember 210 and the air collection port 161. However, the fastening anglebetween the fastening member 210 and the air collection port 161 may beadjusted as necessary for a particular installation environment.

A spray module formed by the main body 220 together with the cleaningwater spray device 230 may be arranged in parallel to the fasteningmember 210 fastened perpendicularly to one side of the air collectionport 161 as shown in FIG. 7A. Alternatively, the spray module may beinclined such that the tip of the spray module is higher than thefastening member 210 as shown in FIG. 7B. When the spray module isinclined such that the tip of the spray module is higher than thefastening member 210 as shown in FIG. 7B, the height difference betweenthe spray module and the lint filter 162 my increase impact with respectto lint attached to the lower side of the lint filter 162 and a sprayradius of the cleaning water spray device 230 may be increased.

Consequently, a lint removal efficiency of the spray module shown inFIG. 7B may be somewhat greater than that of the spray module shown inFIG. 7A.

Referring to FIG. 9, the fastening member 210 may include a fasteningrib 215 extending from the outer circumference thereof to preventleakage of cleaning water from the air collection port 161 during sprayof the cleaning water. The fastening rib 215 may more securely fastenthe filter cleaning device 200 to the air collection port 161.

In certain embodiments, the filter cleaning device 200 may operate onlywhen lint is collected to such an extent that the lint disturbs passageof air through the lint filter 162.

That is, the filter cleaning device 200 may be formed in a shapecorresponding to the sectional area of the lint filter 162 to removelint. In addition, the filter cleaning device 200 may be formed in ashape to minimally restrict interference with the flow of air passingthrough the air collection port 161. Consequently, the main body 220 mayhave a long rod shape which does not interfere with the flow of airpassing through the air collection port 161.

The main body 220 may include a water leakage prevention protrusion 225inclined toward the fastening member 210 to primarily prevent leakage ofcleaning water from the air collection port 161 during spray of thecleaning water in the same manner as the fastening rib 215 of thefastening member 210.

Referring to FIG. 8, the cleaning water spray device 230 may include aplurality of first spray nozzles 231 formed at the edge thereof in aprotruding fashion to spray cleaning water at a predetermined angle anda plurality of second spray nozzles 233 formed at the middle partthereof and among the respective first spray nozzles 231 to spraycleaning water in the vertical direction, i.e., in a direction somewhatorthogonal to the face of the spray device 230.

The first spray nozzles 231 may be formed in a protruding fashion. Eachof the first spray nozzles 231 may include a spray hole formed at oneside of a protruding portion thereof so as to form a certain spray anglewith respect the center of the cleaning water spray device 230.Consequently, the first spray nozzles 231 may have a wider radiuscleaning range to clean the lint filter 162.

The first spray nozzles 231 and the second spray nozzles 233 may beformed so as to be symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis of thecleaning water spray device 230. However, disposition of the spraynozzles may be adjusted as appropriate.

The filter cleaning device 200, i.e. the fastening member 210, the mainbody 220, and the cleaning water spray device 230, may be manufacturedby injection molding. For example, the fastening member 210 and the mainbody 220 may be integrally formed by injection molding through a singleprocess. The cleaning water spray device 230 may be separately formed byinjection molding due to the structural characteristics of the firstspray nozzles 231, which are formed in a protruding fashion. In thiscase, the main body 220 and the cleaning water spray device 230 may becoupled to each other by welding between fastening surfaces of the mainbody 220 and the cleaning water spray device 230. However, the couplingmethod may be adjusted as appropriate.

The cooling water supply device 300 may generate condensed water usingthe rear of the rear tub 120. The cooling water supply device 300 maysupply cooling water to the rear of the rear tub 120 such that the rearof the rear tub 120 functions as a condensing surface. Hereinafter, thecooling water supply device 300 will be described in detail with respectto FIGS. 11 and 12.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cooling water supply device 300 mayinclude a cooling water line 310 to receive cooling water from thecooling water valve 176 and a cooling water nozzle 320 disposed at therear upper side of the tub 120 to spray cooling water to the rear innersurface of the tub 120. The cooling water nozzle 320 may be provided atthe rear upper part of the tub 120. The cooling water nozzle 320 may beformed in a direction opposite to the air collection port 161 formed atthe tub 120 about the rotary shaft 135. For example, the cooling waternozzle 320 may be located at an angle of about 20 to 40 degrees withrespect to a vertical axis passing through the rotary shaft 135. Such anorientation of the cooling water nozzle 320 may allow cooling watersprayed from the cooling water nozzle 320 to smoothly flow along therear of the tub 120.

That is, in a case in which the cooling water nozzle 320 is located atthe middle upper part of the tub 120, cooling water sprayed from thecooling water nozzle 320 may flow vertically along the rear gasket 126and the tub back wall 125 coupled to the rear of the tub 120. As aresult, flow area of the cooling water is reduced and time provided tocool the rear of the tub 120 is relatively short, thus deteriorating acooling effect of the tub 120.

In a case in which the cooling water nozzle 320 is located at the edgeof the tub 120, flow area of cooling water cooling water sprayed fromthe cooling water nozzle 320 is reduced and time provided to cool therear of the tub 120 is relatively short, thus deteriorating a coolingeffect of the tub 120.

In contrast, in a case in which the cooling water nozzle 320 is providedat an angle of about 20 to 40 degrees with respect to the vertical axisin a direction opposite to the air collection port 161 as describedabove, cooling water sprayed from the cooling water nozzle 320 flowsdownward along the rear of the tub 120 for a relatively long period oftime and over a relatively large flow area to cool the tub 120, thusimproving a cooling effect of the tub 120.

That is, when generating condensed water using the inner surface of thetub 120 in this manner, the condensed water may be generated using awider area, thereby improving a condensed water generation effect.

The cooling water nozzle 320 may spray cooling water supplied form thecooling water line 310 widely to the rear of the tub 120. The coolingwater nozzle 320 may have a hollow body. A connection end 322, to whichthe cooling water line 310 is connected, may be formed at the upper partof the cooling water nozzle 320, and a nozzle end 326, which is locatedinside the tub 120, may be formed at the lower part of the cooling waternozzle 320. Between the connection end 322 and the nozzle end 326 may bea catching end 324, by which the cooling water nozzle 320 is mounted tothe tub 120. A deflection plate 328 to deflect cooling water to the rearof the tub 120 in a spreading fashion may be provided at the lower partof the nozzle end 326.

Hereinafter, operation of a laundry treating machine as embodied andbroadly described herein will be described. The filter cleaning deviceand the cooling water supply device may be operated during a dryingcycle of the laundry treating machine 100. Consequently, a descriptionof a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle of the laundry treating machine100 will be omitted, and the drying cycle of the laundry treatingmachine 100 will be described in brief.

First, the blowing fan 163 of the air supply device 160 may be operatedduring a drying cycle. As the blowing fan 163 is operated, air from thetub 120 may be suctioned through the air collection port 161 andforwarded to the heating duct 164 by the blowing fan 163. The airforwarded to the heating duct 164 may be heated by the heater providedin the heating duct 164 and supplied into the tub 120 through the airdischarge port 165.

The air supplied into the tub 120 may dry laundry in the tub 120(specifically, the drum 130). The air used to dry the laundry may becomehumid due to moisture evaporated from the laundry. The humid air may beintroduced through the air collection port 161 and circulated.

Lint generated during drying of the laundry may be filtered by the lintfilter 162 of the air collection port 161. The filtered lint may beseparated from the lint filter 162 through operation of the filtercleaning device 200 during the drying cycle or during a washing/rinsingcycle, introduced into the tub 120, and discharged from the laundrytreating machine 100 through the drainage device.

Moisture generated from the laundry during the above process may becirculated together with the air. The moisture may be removed by thecooling water supply device 300. First, when cooling water is suppliedunder control of the cooling water valve 176, the cooling water may flowalong the cooling water line 310 and be sprayed onto the rear of the tub120 through the cooling water nozzle 320. The cooling water sprayed ontothe rear of the tub 120 may flow downward along the rear of the tub 120to cool the inner circumference of the tub 120. At this time, heatexchange between the humid air and the surface of the tub 120 may beperformed so that moisture contained in the humid air is condensed atthe rear of the tub 120, and condensed air generated.

The cooling water supplied by the cooling water supply device 300 may bedischarged from the laundry treating machine 100 through the drainagedevice after cooling the rear if the tub 120. Supply time and intervalsof the cooling water supplied by the cooling water supply device 300 maybe shorter than drainage time and intervals of the cooling water drainedby the drainage device. In this case, staying time of the cooling waterin the tub 12 may be increased to further improve a tub cooling effect.The cooling water may be repeatedly supplied several times, or severalten times, such as, for example, supplying cooling water for 3 to 5seconds and interrupting the supply of cooling water for 5 to 7 seconds.Also, the cooling water may be repeatedly drained several times toseveral ten times under a condition in which the cooling water isdrained for 10 to 20 seconds and the drainage of the cooling water isinterrupted for 240 to 270 seconds.

In a laundry machine as embodied and broadly described herein, humid airhaving high temperature may remain in the tub 120, with air outside thetub 120 having a lower temperature than the air inside the tub 120,allowing the air to be condensed at the inner circumference of the tub120 due to the temperature difference between the inside and the outsideof the tub 120, even though no water is supplied from the cooling watersupply device 300.

Even in this case, a condensing amount may be greater than a condensingamount provided by the condensing duct 14 shown in FIG. 1. That is, inthe condensing duct 14, condensation is derived through a smaller areathan the inner circumference of the tub 120. In a case in whichcondensation is derived at the inner circumference of the tub 120, onthe other hand, the cooling surface for condensation is larger, thelarger condensing surface improving condensing efficiency.

Furthermore, because cooling water is supplied to the rear of the tub120, cooling efficiency may be greater than in a case in which nocooling water is supplied to the rear of the tub 120.

In a laundry treating machine as embodied and broadly described herein,the inner surface of the tub forms a condensing surface to removemoisture from hot air used to dry laundry. Due to the relatively largecondensing surface, condensing efficiency may be improved and waste ofcooling water may be avoided.

In a laundry treating machine as embodied and broadly described herein,a lint filter may filter lint from air circulated in the laundrytreating machine after drying laundry, thereby preventing problemsassociated with the accumulation of lint.

In a laundry treating machine as embodied and broadly described herein,a filter cleaning device may clean the lint filter to filter lint fromair circulated in the laundry treating machine after drying laundry,thereby achieving easy cleaning of the lint filter.

The laundry treating machine as embodied and broadly described hereinmay include an improved condensing structure to remove moisture from hotair used to dry laundry, thereby improving condensing efficiency.

The laundry treating machine as embodied and broadly described hereinmay include a lint filter to filter lint from air and a filter cleaningdevice to clean the lint filter, thereby preventing problems due toaccumulation of lint.

A laundry treating machine is provided, including a condensing structurein which moisture removal from hot air used to dry laundry is improved,thereby improving condensing efficiency.

A laundry treating machine is provided, including a lint filter tofilter lint from air and a filter cleaning unit to clean the lintfilter.

A laundry machine as embodied and broadly described herein may include atub to receive wash water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, an airsupply unit to supply air to the tub, a lint filter to filter lint fromthe air circulated by the air supply unit, a filter cleaning unit tosupply cleaning water to the lint filter to remove the lint from thelint filter, and a cooling water supply unit to supply cooling water toan inner surface of the tub such that moisture contained in air iscondensed at the inner surface of the tub.

The air supply unit may be located at an upper part of the tub tocollect air on an outer circumference of the tub and to supply the airto a front of the tub.

The air supply unit may include an air collection port formed throughthe outer circumference of the tub, a blowing fan located at an upperpart of the air collection port to move air, a heating duct to heat theair moved by the blowing fan, and an air discharge port to supply theair heated by the heating duct to the front of the tub.

The tub may include a cooling water supply unit to supply cooling waterto a rear inner surface of the tub such that the rear inner surface ofthe tub forms a condensing surface to generate condensed water.

The cooling water supply unit may include a cooling water line forming aroute along which the cooling water flows and a cooling water nozzlefixed to the tub to spray the cooling water to a rear of the tub.

The cooling water nozzle may include a connection end, to which thecooling water line is connected, a catching end, by which the coolingwater nozzle is mounted to the tub, and a nozzle end to spray thecooling water to the rear of the tub.

The nozzle end may include a reflection plate to reflect the coolingwater to the rear of the tub.

The filter cleaning unit may spray cleaning water to an inside of thetub from an outside of the lint filter.

The filter cleaning unit may include a main body having a hollow part,through which cleaning water is introduced, and a cleaning water sprayunit fastened to the main body such that one side of the cleaning waterspray unit is open and the other side of the cleaning water spray unitis closed, the cleaning water spray unit having a hollow part, throughwhich cleaning water is introduced.

The filter cleaning unit may further include a fastening member havingone end connected to the cleaning water line and the other end extendingfrom the main body or the cleaning water spray unit, the fasteningmember communicating with the main body or the cleaning water spray unitsuch that cleaning water flows to the hollow part.

The fastening member may include a fastening rib extending from an outercircumference thereof to prevent leakage of cleaning water from the aircollection port.

The main body may be formed in the shape of a long rod which does notinterfere with the flow of air passing through the air collection port.

The main body may include a water leakage prevention protrusion inclinedtoward the fastening member.

The cleaning water spray unit may include a plurality of first spraynozzles formed at an edge thereof in a protruding fashion to spraycleaning water at a predetermined angle and a plurality of second spraynozzles formed at a middle part thereof and among the respective firstspray nozzles to spray cleaning water in a vertical direction.

Each of the first spray nozzles may have a spray hole formed at one sideof a protruding portion thereof so as to have a spray angle about acenter of the cleaning water spray unit in a circumferential direction.

The first spray nozzles and the second spray nozzles may be formed so asto be symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cleaningwater spray unit.

The main body and the cleaning water spray unit may be coupled to eachother by welding between fastening surfaces of the main body and thecleaning water spray unit.

The laundry treating machine may further include a valve unit, whereinthe valve unit may include a water supply valve to control the supply ofwash water to the tub, a cleaning water valve to control the supply ofcleaning water to the filter cleaning unit, and a cooling water valve tocontrol the supply of cooling water to the cooling water supply unit.

The laundry treating machine may further include a rear gasket to seal arear part of the tub to prevent leakage of water from the tub to a drivemotor and to allow movement of the drive motor relative to the tub.

The laundry treating machine may further include a drive motor fastenedto a bearing housing and directly connected to a rotary shaft to rotatethe rotary shaft.

The laundry treating machine may further include a suspension unit tosupport the drum, wherein the tub may be supported more rigidly than thedrum supported by the suspension unit.

The laundry treating machine may further include a rotary shaftconnected to the drum, a bearing housing to rotatably support the rotaryshaft, a drive motor to rotate the rotary shaft, and a suspension unitconnected to the bearing housing to absorb vibration of the drum.

The tub may be fixedly fastened to a cabinet.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A laundry machine, comprising: a tub; a drumrotatably provided in the tub; an air supply device circulating airalong an air circulation path to supply air to the tub; a lint filterpositioned in the air circulation path to filter lint from the aircirculated by the air supply device; a filter cleaning device supplyingcleaning water to the lint filter to remove lint accumulated on the lintfilter; and a cooling water supply device supplying cooling water to aninner surface of the tub such that moisture contained in the circulatedair is condensed at the inner surface of the tub.
 2. The laundry machineof claim 1, wherein the air supply device is provided at an upperportion of the tub to collect air at an outer circumference of the tuband to supply air at a front of the tub.
 3. The laundry machine of claim2, wherein the air supply device comprises: an air collection portextending through the outer circumference of the tub; an air dischargeport provided at a front of the tub; a heating duct extending betweenthe air collection port and the air discharge port; and a fan providedabove the air collection port, wherein air drawn from the tub throughthe air collection port and into heating duct by the fan is heated inthe heating duct and supplied to the drum through the air dischargeport.
 4. The laundry machine of claim 2, wherein the cooling watersupply device comprises: a cooling water nozzle fixed to the tub andpositioned so as to spray cooling water toward an inner rear surface ofthe tub; and a cooling water line that supplies cooling water to thecooling water nozzle.
 5. The laundry machine of claim 4, wherein thecooling water nozzle comprises: a first end, to which the cooling waterline is connected; a second end, forming a nozzle through which coolingwater is sprayed toward the inner rear surface of the tub; and anintermediate section positioned between the first and second ends, bywhich the cooling water nozzle is coupled to the tub.
 6. The laundrymachine of claim 5, wherein the second end includes a deflection platethat deflects cooling water toward the inner rear surface of the tub. 7.The laundry machine of claim 1, wherein the filter cleaning devicecomprises: a main body having a hollow portion, through which cleaningwater flows; and a spray device coupled to the main body, the spraydevice comprising: a hollow central portion through which cleaning waterflows; a first end which is open to allow cleaning water from a cleaningwater line to flow into the hollow central portion; and a second endwhich is closed, the second end being opposite the first end.
 8. Thelaundry machine of claim 7, wherein the filter cleaning device furthercomprises a fastening device having a first end connected to thecleaning water line and a second end extending from the main body or thespray device, the fastening device is in communication with the mainbody or the spray device to allow cleaning water to flow to the hollowcentral portion of the spray device.
 9. The laundry machine of claim 8,wherein the fastening device extends through an outer wall of an aircollection port of the air supply device, and wherein the fasteningdevice comprises a fastening rib extending from an outer circumferentialportion thereof to prevent leakage of cleaning water from the aircollection port.
 10. The laundry machine of claim 7, wherein the mainbody is formed in the shape of a long rod that extends into a portion ofthe air circulation path defined by the air collection port and does notinterfere with the flow of air passing through the air collection port.11. The laundry machine of claim 7, wherein the main body comprises awater leakage prevention protrusion positioned at an incline orientedtoward the fastening device.
 12. The laundry machine of claim 7, whereinthe spray device comprises: a plurality of first spray nozzles formed asprotrusions arranged along opposite ends of the main body and eachoriented at a respective predetermined angle with respect to the mainbody so as to spray cleaning water toward the lint filter at therespective predetermined angle; and a plurality of second spray nozzlesformed at an intermediate portion of the main body and between theplurality of first spray nozzles arranged along the opposite ends of themain body, wherein the plurality of second spray nozzles are oriented soas to spray cleaning water toward the lint filter in a direction that issubstantially orthogonal to the main body.
 13. The laundry machine ofclaim 12, wherein each of the plurality of first spray nozzles has aspray hole extending through a protruded portion thereof at therespective spray angle so as to form a circumferential spray patterndirected toward the lint filter.
 14. The laundry machine of claim 12,wherein the plurality of first spray nozzles and the plurality of secondspray nozzles are arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinalaxis of the spray device.
 15. The laundry machine of claim 1, furthercomprising a valve assembly, comprising: a water supply valvecontrolling a supply of wash water to the tub; a cleaning water valvecontrolling a supply of cleaning water to the filter cleaning device;and a cooling water valve controlling a supply of cooling water to thecooling water supply device.
 16. The laundry machine of claim 1, furthercomprising a rear gasket provided at a rear wall of the tub to seal arear part of the tub and prevent leakage of water from the tub to adrive motor coupled thereto, and to allow movement of the drive motorrelative to the tub.
 17. The laundry machine of claim 1, furthercomprising a drive motor coupled to a bearing housing and directlyconnected to a rotary shaft coupled to the drum to rotate the drum. 18.The laundry machine of claim 1, further comprising: a suspension deviceelastically supporting the drum, wherein the tub is rigidly supported,separately from the drum, and the drum is elastically supported by thesuspension device.
 19. The laundry machine of claim 1, furthercomprising: a rotary shaft coupled to the drum; a bearing housingrotatably supporting the rotary shaft; a drive motor coupled to therotary shaft to rotate the rotary shaft; and a suspension device coupledto the bearing housing to absorb vibration of the drum.
 20. The laundrymachine of claim 1, further comprising a cabinet in which the tub andthe drum are installed, wherein the tub is fixedly fastened to thecabinet.